The diffusion of management accounting systems in manufacturing companies: an empirical analysis of Italian firms

Abstract

Purpose – To analyze the diffusion of management accounting tools in Italian manufacturing firms and the impact of contingency factors with a particular focus on internationalization.

Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on a qualitative statistical analysis and two quantitative data analyses focusing on the effects of contingency factors. In particular, 274 questionnaires were analyzed. A questionnaire-based e-mail survey was used to collect data.

Findings – The results confirm positive relationships between management accounting systems and traditional contingency factors such as company size, organizational structure, and operational complexity. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the internationalization and implementation of activity-based costing and target costing.

Research limitations/implications – In the context of internationalization, this exploratory study considers only the impact of foreign customers. Further research could include other factors such as foreign suppliers, joint ventures, and technological exchanges.

Originality/value of paper – This paper contributes to the analysis of the impact of internationalization, a contingency variable not yet fully investigated in management accounting system research.

Citation

Carenzo, P. and Turolla, A. (2010), "The diffusion of management accounting systems in manufacturing companies: an empirical analysis of Italian firms", Epstein, M.J., Manzoni, J.-F. and Davila, A. (Ed.) Performance Measurement and Management Control: Innovative Concepts and Practices (Studies in Managerial and Financial Accounting, Vol. 20), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 457-499. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3512(2010)0000020019